Engine coolant sensor?

First of all ,my car has been quitting often. Yesterday my dad was driving it and it quit on him. He said that the engine coolant warning light came on. Shortly after it started again. When he got home and told me what heppened I checked and the coolant thing was full. Could this problem be a sensor of some sort going bad? Thanks, and please tell me quickly or my Grandparent are gonna make me take it to the dedalership. Ikkk. Thanks again.

well the check engine light should come on, hook up 2 the scan tool and make sure its the coolant temp sensor

dont want to waste money
I drove with a bad sensor for about a week, after that it wouldn't start

Im pretty sure the check engine light came on too. But it doesnt stay on or stay messed up all the time. Wouldnt it have to be screwed up to hook it up to the computer thing? or else the comp would just scan right over it if it was working at the time.

If the check engine light came on anytime, it will be stored in the ECU's memory, and will stay there until it is erased. The coolant light has nothing to do with the coolant temp sensor, other than the obvious. Get that CEL checked out. http://www.myzero.com/electrical/code.html (1G only)

When the car stalls, many idiot lights will come on. Including the CEL. The coolant systems sensors have nothing to do with the car running or the ECU, and will cause no CELs or codes. But hook up a scan tool or datalogger anyway, in case there is a real code in there ;)

The CTS will throw a code

Right. But the coolant light is for the level sensor in the overflow reservior. The coolant level sensor will not cause a DTC, but coolant temp will. When the coolant temp sensor fails it reads -40F, and the ECU will not adjust fuel trims thinking the car is not warmed up. I believe it will throw a code for the sensor fail. And perhaps a fuel trim code though I cant remember, it happened a while back now.

Yeah the level sensor lights up the dash light. I didnt get a fuel trim code on my 1G, just the CTS code itself.